"New report calls for 'urgent action' on climate change." That's the headline message of the May 6-released US National Climate Assessment report, a congressionally-mandated study by 300 leading scientists and climate experts.

The report says the effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.

"Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," the scientists said. "There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced."

I have in my own files more than 100 major scientific and interest groups (including NASA, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Britain's Royal Society, the Vatican, World Council of Churches, World Bank ) that agree climate change is real, largely man-made, growing worse and a threat to our planet. The super skeptics and deniers have no sources — I repeat, none — with broad, scientific credibility.

The last decade was the hottest on record in the U.S. Arctic sea ice is melting. The Southwest U.S. is projected to face widespread and continuing drought.

We have to wake up and starting working together as a world-connected family. We owe upcoming generations a clean, safe and habitable planet.

JOHN CURRIE, Lower Allen Twp.

This version of the letter has been updated with the correct name of the National Academy of Sciences.